Milwaukee man awarded $631 in court after towing dispute

The $290 Lot Dispute That Sparked a Ten-Month Legal Battle

Brian Scott decided to spend ten months proving that property management companies and towing operators cannot simply write their own rules.

Last month, a Milwaukee County judge awarded the Milwaukee man more than $600 following a towing dispute that began when his daughter’s car vanished from a Brown Deer apartment complex parking lot, tmj4.com reported. What started as an aggressive tow over an expired vehicle registration turned into a masterclass in small claims accountability.

Towing Company Removes Car for Expired Registration

The ordeal kicked off in August 2025. Scott’s daughter had just moved into the Brook Lane Apartments, a property owned by Elmington Property Management. Just days after moving day, she woke up to find her Nissan Altima gone.

Brew City Towing had removed the vehicle. The justification had nothing to do with parking in a fire lane, blocking a dumpster, or failing to display a valid resident permit. Instead, the company towed the car because its registration had lapsed.

Milwaukee man wins over $600 in court after daughter's car was towed in apartment dispute

While the lease agreement technically listed expired registration as grounds for a tow, Scott saw the action as an arbitrary overreach executed with zero warning mere days after his daughter unpacked her boxes.

Brew City Towing assessed the maximum standard fee of $150, then stacked an additional $140 onto the bill by claiming they required special equipment to pull a standard sedan out of the lot. Pushed to his limit, Scott bypassed endless phone calls to customer service and headed straight for the court system.

“You want to get real action? Get your money back you should sue them in small claims court,” Scott said.

Default Judgment Delivered After No-Show Court Appearances

Eventually, Brew City Towing was dismissed from the litigation, but Elmington Property Management failed to show up for their scheduled court dates entirely.

That absence proved costly for the property management firm. Because they never appeared to defend their policies, a Milwaukee County judge issued a default judgment against them, ordering a payout of $631 to Scott.

Silence From Corporate Defendants as Tenants Are Urged to Fight Back

When local reporters reached out for comment, the legal representation for Brew City Towing pointed to the dismissal of their client as the reason for silence, while Elmington Property Management did not respond to inquiries.

Scott hopes his victory serves as an invitation for other tenants to push back against questionable fees rather than accepting them as the cost of renting.

“I did it because I want to inspire other people to know that you don’t have to accept this, if you feel really wronged in there, then challenge it and it’s winnable,” Scott said.